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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

HOPE for Alzheimer’s

More than five million Americans have
Alzheimer’s disease including 110,000 Missourians. With 10,000 baby boomers
turning 65 each day, cases of Alzheimer’s are expected to skyrocket.

Alzheimer’s is the most expensive
disease and has a negative impact on our nation’s economy. Alzheimer’s disease cost the nation $203 billion in 2013,
and by 2050 it is expected to reach $1.2 trillion annually. The rising costs
for Alzheimer’s care and services threaten to bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid. Alzheimer’s
takes a toll on families—both financial and emotional.

News of a blood test to predict who will
develop Alzheimer’s disease has been met with excitement and trepidation. By
identifying those at risk for Alzheimer’s, researchers might find success with
medications that have not worked in the later stages. New insights into how
Alzheimer’s affects the brain would help researchers understand the disease
better.

Without a cure, prevention, or effective
treatment, the question arises—who would want to know if they were going to develop Alzheimer’s? Currently, fifty percent of Americans who have Alzheimer’s do not
know they have the disease, but nearly ninety percent want to know if they have
the disease.

The Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s
Act would provide Medicare services to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Early diagnosis would allow people to get their affairs in
order while they had the capacity to do so. They could make lifestyle changes
that research indicates could delay the onset. A healthy diet, exercise, and
remaining socially engaged has many health benefits and has long been
considered a boost for cognition.

The HOPE Act addresses problems with how the healthcare system currently works. Once a person has been diagnosed, HOPE for Alzheimer’s ensures
that the newly diagnosed person and care providers will receive vital
information with treatment options and support services available.

This Act promotes open communication between patient,
the medical team, and caregiver. It would require documentation of the diagnostic
evaluation to be provided in the patient’s medical record. This is a huge
improvement! With the complete medical history in hand, care providers can help
manage other diseases the person with dementia might have.

When my husband developed dementia at 49, the diagnostic
process was lengthy. I kept a log of his symptoms, medications, drug reactions,
and other health concerns. I shared this list with the many physicians involved
in diagnosing and treating him. Not having this information would have
adversely affected his care.

Being a caregiver for a loved one with dementia is a life-changing
situation. Jim’s dementia is the reason I have been an advocate on state
and national levels for the past fifteen years.

In April, my sister, Roberta Fischer and I will join more
than 750 Alzheimer’s advocates in Washington, D.C. for the Advocacy Forum. Along
with other Missouri advocates, we will visit Senator Roy Blunt (R), Senator
Claire McCaskill (D), and Representative Vicky Hartzler (R). The fight to end
Alzheimer’s is a bipartisan effort.

When legislation that makes so much common sense comes
along, it is time for everyone who has experienced Alzheimer’s firsthand to
write that email, make a phone call, or drop by a district office. I
urge you to join your voice to ours by contacting your U.S. senators (S 709)
and U.S. representative (HR 1507) and ask them to co-sponsor the HOPE for
Alzheimer’s Act.

One of Healthline's Top 20 Alzheimer's Blogs

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Third Place in the 2013 Contest!

One of Healthline's Top Blogs

Voted one of Healthline's top blogs of 2012--4th Place in the Contest

Early Onset Blog in Top 25 2011 Alzheimer's Blogs - Healthline.com

Early Onset Alzheimer’s

This award-winning blog is a must-read for individuals experiencing early-onset Alzheimer’s. Less common than standard age-related dementias, early onset Alzheimer’s is virtually always a surprise to diagnosed individuals. Linda Fisher, blogger and author, knows the difficulty of this condition firsthand.

In her Early Onset Alzheimer’s blog, she teaches readers not just how to manage such a frightening condition, but also how to live life to the fullest. Her passion for helping others – showing everyone that life with Alzheimer’s is worth living – is a tremendous gift. Thank you, Linda!

Blog Awards

Early Onset Blog has received several blog awards. Due to new Google regulations, the links had to be removed. Past awards have included the #1 Health Blog , Top 10 blog in 2010, Top 25 Blog award in 2010, and a Top 50 award in 2012. We appreciate the recognition, but also understand the need to remove the links.

When Jim returned from Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort Riley, and we spent about a year and a half living in Manhattan, Kansas. With ba...

Linda's Blog Books

Books are a print version of Linda's award-winning Blog. These books are published for the benefit of those without Internet access or who just prefer to curl up with a book rather than browsing online. If you enjoy Linda's blog posts, you might want to purchase the book for a friend or family member.

Fisher began her online journal to share her experiences with families affected by early onset dementia. Her essays provide insight into family life often from a humorous viewpoint. She writes from her experiences as a longtime Alzheimer's Association volunteer and advocate and ten years as a primary caregiver for her husband, Jim.

Early Onset Blog

Alzheimer's Anthology of Unconditional Love by L. S. Fisher

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation

I have participated in a link exchange with the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. They have this blog http://earlyonset.blogspot.com/ listed in their Alzheimer's blogs.

Lindsay Nason wrote about my Early Onset Blog: "I want to thank you for sharing your powerful experience and your creative suggestions with others. . . . Your blog offers a unique and personal insight into this disease, which can be such a comfort to other members of the Alzheimer's community."

Thank you, Lindsay, for your kind words and for including the Early Onset Blog on your website.